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I’m late to the fall fashion party, but in my defense it’s only been in the last week or so that we have finally felt any real chill in the DC area. Today, I am making up for lost time. The weather, while not terribly cold, is gloomy and overcast providing a perfect backdrop to peruse autumns sartorial offerings online. I am especially taken by the trend toward sweatshirts as a legitimate fashion element and not just something to throw on as I’m dashing out the door on my way to a youth sports event. There is nothing else quite as cozy and easy to layer as days get colder. I found a neutral, basic top from the H&M Conscious Collection and created three different looks using upcycled, vegan, or thrift shop items along with a couple basic pieces currently in my closet:

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It’s pretty picked over at this point- most of my favs are gone anyway, but there are still a couple cute handbags available at Rue La La’s online sample sale. All bags are marked down to $99! You’ll want to hurry though because it closes tomorrow at 11 am.

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Just came across this book and I am so very, very excited! Excited enough that I had to share right away.

Even though I don’t have as much time for this kind of thing as I would like, I really do enjoy making stuff and typically when I get down to sewing something, it starts out as a purse. It may not end up as a purse, but hopefully this book will remedy that -once I get my hands on a copy, that is. Until then, I will continue to be inspired by other creative folks who are making awesome bags out of some interesting materials:

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So of all the starlets Disney has churned out of its factory, I dislike Hilary Duff (and Raven Symone) the least. I’m not even sure why that is, but suffice it to say I’m not here to bag on her-in fact I quite like what she and/or her stylist have done here. I’m just going to inject a little compassion into this fun People Style Watch spread. After all, proclaiming leather pants to be her go-to item for looking edgy is practically a cry for help. Someone with Hil’s fashion budget and creativity can easily integrate sustainable and cruelty-free purchases into their wardrobe. Behold!

The shoes are somewhat more problematic-not because I couldn’t find a non-leather equivalent, because I did find a perfect imitation. The fact that this dead ringer is only $8 is trouble because I’m guessing that the workers who assemble cheap knock-offs of Jimmy Choos for online strip club wear outlets probably don’t earn a living wage. Just a hunch. So I had to depart slightly from the silver snake print gladiator and go for these gorgeous silver shoes from Beyond Skin.Beyond Skin’s shoe line is completely vegan and they are known for their ethical business practices as well.

Moving on to the bottom right of the page-Adorable crocheted bag by Autonomie Project available at Nimli, wide black belt with faux croc print buckle- these are pretty easy to find just about everywhere. Had a little difficulty finding a slip with long fringe like HD’s but I couldn’t resist this vintage fringe dress, which could be done with or without the belt, from Robin Clayton Vintage. Add these patent peeptoes from Neauaura available at Shop Humanitaire and we’re set!

Finally, top right- HD’s edgy denim look made more animal and eco friendly with these almost booties available at Ragazzi Vegan, and fair trade, organic cotton jeans from Equa -find a sharp object and distress ’em yourself if you must. As far as her top goes, it’s hard for me to tell what’s going on in the photo, so I’m going to let Hil really make a statement here and put her in this “Live Green or Die” tank from Alternative Outfitters.

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The following is a guest post by a wonderful friend and New Yorker who agreed to check out Ecouterre’s launch party for us:

When Gina asked me to attend and write up the launch party for the website Ecouterre at Kaight, a Manhattan boutique specializing in eco-friendly clothing, I was hesitant. I am woefully ignorant about matters of sustainability and eco-consciousness, having decided a while back that my personal share of environmental activism has been covered by the fact that I haven’t driven a car in fourteen years. In fact, the only thing I know less about than eco-consciousness is fashion. Recently a friend described my wardrobe as, “A mish-mash of men’s shoes, H&M blouses, Rachel Zoe-esque cocktail rings, and therapist shawls. But not in a good way.” Thanks, friend! Nevertheless I agreed to attend, lured by the promise of free vegan cookies and Gina’s pledge to call me “scoop” for an indefinite period of time.

Ecouterre is a website devoted to “the future of clothing and textile design,” dedicated to “showcasing and supporting designers who not only contemplate cut, form, and drape, but also a garment’s social and environmental impact, from the cultivation of its fibers to its use and disposal.” Their launch party was held at the Lower East Side shop Kaight, which showcases “emerging and independent designers” who utilize organic, sustainable and recycled materials. Here are some of my personal highlights from the shop’s wares:

Yuka Yoneda, Ecouterre’s lovely New York editor, is modeling the Circle Cascade Necklace, which was being raffled off during the launch party. Sadly, I did not win this beautiful piece from The Andean Collection, makers of environmentally friendly and socially conscious fashion who employ fair trade principles with their artisans. The jewelry is made is from unique materials like acai seeds and tagua, and is available for sale through their website (www.theandeancollection.com).

In the background of this shot you can see stacked candles by A Scent of Scandal, a line of hand-poured, 100% soy-wax candles made by a Californian brother and sister team. I tried to get a photo of the disturbingly named “DILF” scented candle, but it didn’t come out, so you’ll just have to take my word for it.

It felt a bit stalkery to follow Ms. Yoneda around all night asking her to model things, so I had to awkwardly take a of picture myself in order to showcase this adorable hat by Stewart and Brown, makers of eco-friendly knit-wear (www.stewartbrown.com).

These vegan shoes are by Calico Napa and are sadly too rich for my blood at $345. Which is perhaps just as well, because I’m not certain how to wear them. With socks? With jeans? Something tells me that if I lived in Williamsburg, I would know the answer.

I wouldn’t wear these $99 dollar Melissa Joy Flocado shoes, but I’m happy that they exist in the world.

This $280 dollar Ashley Watson vegan bag would be my new work bag, in a world where magic fairies paid my cable bill.

These raspberry cookies by green caterers Rabbit Mafia were delish. I was sampling them when I overheard this conversation:

Boy Fashionista: “Did you hear Marc Jacobs is coming?”

Girl Fashionista: “Really?!?!!”

Boy Fashionista: “Well, his assistant.”

When the PAs of New York’s fashion elite start showing up at a party, it’s time for the Bevins of the world to skedaddle. If you happen to visit Kaight, I recommend you do as I did and head a few doors down to An Choi for an awesome Banh Mi sandwich (vegan toppings available). After dinner I walked past Kaight again to head towards the subway. The store had indeed filled with the beautiful and the eco-conscious, who were drinking organic cocktails and spilling out onto Orchard street.

I bid farewell to Kaight and gave one last, long, loving glance to these Joan Holloway-esque necklaces on display in shop. If eco-conscious fashion is wrong, baby, I don’t want to be right.

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I like to shop. I have always liked to shop. As much as anyone who has been raised in a society based on consumption likes to shop, I like to shop. However, I also like our planet, and animals and people. I don’t want to contribute excessively to the degradation of the environment, the suffering of living creatures or the exploitation of human beings. So, I am trying, as many of us are, to think carefully about my purchases when I do have to make them, and how to reuse what I already have. And I am really excited about that last bit because I just came across a list of very cool websites via green my style that are all about that. These are a few that really got me to thinking…

1. Make Do and Mend – no-frills site with great tips on making things over and also good info on the social and environmental costs of overconsumption.

2. Swishing – remember back in junior high when you and your friends used to borrow each others’ clothes? (Jennifer B., wherever you are, I’m really, really sorry it took me so long to return your Guess jeans back in the 8th grade.) This is just like that except you have a party and everyone brings an item of clothing to swap. You and your pals don’t where the same sizes? No prob! Swapping accessories works just as well. ( Looks like this is a big deal in the UK, but a quick search for this type of activity in the US was unsuccessful…surely it’s happening though. I will continue searching. ) OK so my searching for US clothes swapping parties was hampered by the fact that I used “swishing” vs. “clothes swapping”. Ms. Scarr pointed out that they have lots o’ swaps in Oregon and I found some in San Fran.

3. What’s Mine is Yours – feeling anti-social? This is swishing online. Users can also buy and sell items here.

4. Oxfam DIY – tips on refashioning old items into new ones. Second hand clothing for this purpose can be purchased on the site. More info on Oxfam in this fun video:

5. Wardrobe Refashion – if you are rolling your eyes and thinking: I am already way of ahead of you sister, I am an upcycling machine! then take the pledge at Wardrobe Refashion:

I pledge that i shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovoted, recycled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that thy thriftiness brings!

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Most of the time I’m ok not having cable, but I really, really want to see this…

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